Reach for The Umbrella

Yes, it was Pilling today, where although it proved fairly quiet I came away with a half decent list of birds which included the first autumnal Dunlin, thirty or so birds out on the incoming tide at 11am. The Redshank count at 50+ was slightly up today when extra Redshanks joined the local post-breeding birds which stayed on the marsh through May and June. Completing the wader count were 80 Curlew, 110 Lapwing, 22 Oystercatcher and 2 Common Sandpiper. 

Dunlin

Other birds out on the tideline - 220 Black-headed Gull, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 44 Shelduck and 11 Cormorant. 

A Peregrine flashed over the shore early on heading towards Cockerham, and then 15 minutes later came back from that direction and briefly overhead. Although the sun was out briefly, the camera wasn’t set for an overhead Peg so it was point and hope for the best, or fiddle with the settings and lose the bird. 

Peregrine

Peregrine

Other birds: 20+ Skylark, 2 Corn Bunting, 6 Pied Wagtail, 14 Goldfinch, 3 Linnet, 5 Greenfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Blackcap, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 House Martin, 8 Swift. There still aren’t many Swallows about the normal places with many people reporting a lack of nests with slow plus low productivity. I did see a family party of 8 birds at Pilling Water which included newly fledged juveniles, posing in the usual location, 

Barn Swallow

Now it’s official, the wettest June since records began and more of the same promised for this week. Never mind, Another Bird Blog will be out somewhere, with an umbrella if necessary - stay tuned.